Open fire-grate



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

J. H. MOILVAIN.

OPEN FIRE GRATE. No. 479,916. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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ooooooomo (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. MoILVAIN.

OPEN FIRE GRATB.

No. 479,916. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. H. McILVAIN. OPEN FIRE GRATE.

No. 479,916. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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UNITED STATES ATENT JOHN H. MOILVAIN, OF CAMDEN, NElV JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO CHARLES F. BARTLETT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

OPEN FIRE-G RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,916, dated August2, 1892.

Application filed July 8, 1890. Serial No. 358,072. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN I-I. MOILVAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Open Fire-Grates,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates particularly to an improvement in a segmentalsliding cover or blower arranged in front of the portion of the gratethat acts as a receptacle or fire-box for containing the fuel thatserves the purposes during combustion of generating heat for radiationinto an apartment. This cover is so arranged and connected with thejambs and front of the fireplace as to be capable of partial slidingmovements over and upon fixed ways cast upon the jambs over and on whichsaid cover slides, (when motion is imparted thereto by an operator,) sothat when the coals of fire are sufficiently ignited the portion of theblower may be elevated and caused to slide inward within the fireplaceout of View, whereby they rest upon cleats or ways rigid on the jambsformed thereon for their reception. A reverse movement by the same meansemployed to raise the portions of the blower causes a descending motionto be imparted thereto, thereby inclosing the fireplace and itscontained mass of ignited coals, which when given draft below the gratecauses increased ignition of fuel. When the coals are sufficientlyignited, the blower-covers are raised to permit of radiation of heatinto the apartment. A slip-bar, detachable by hand, is arranged insockets of the lower portion of the front of the fireplace to rock thegrate-bars for the purpose of removing the ashes and debris caused bythe consumption of fuel. The novel arrangement of the covers is designedespecially for the purpose of always retaining the blower-cover inconnection with the fireplace ready for use, obviating the necessity ofremoving the same to one side by hand when it becomes heated by thefire, and also decreases the danger incurred by contact of clothing ofthe operator with a heated cover or mass of fire.

I am aware that the accomplishment of the results obtained by thesliding cover have been attained by the use of cords with pulleys andweights to counterbalance the weight of the covers; but these are foundin practice to be defective, because not durable and liable to becomedisordered by use or in the hands of careless operators, and when theybecome deranged it is almost impossible to remedy their defects withoutremoving and rebuilding the fireplace. My invention is designed toovercome these defects and objections, as will be more fully understoodfrom the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this specification,Figure 1, Sheet No. 1,is a front elevation of a low-down grate, showinga face view of the segmental blowers or covers 0 C. Fig. 2, Sheet No. 2,is a face view of one of the jambs D. Fig. 3 is an edge view of a jambD, taken in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 2. Fig. lis alike viewof same in the direction of the arrow S. Fig. 5 is an end view of same,taken in the direction of the arrow T. Fig. 6 is a like view taken inthe direction of the arrow V. Fig. 7 is an inner face View of blower orcover 0. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of same. Fig. 9, Sheet N o.3, isa vertical section taken through the line a: a: of Fig. 1, showingthe blower and cover portions 0 C in. their positions while in use. Fig.10 is a like View showing the covers 0 O in their elevated positions.Fig. 11 is a plan or edge View of an end of the lower front cover 0.Fig. 12 is an end view of the cover portion 0'.

Like letters of reference in all the figures indicate the same parts.

A is the front or casing of the grate, which surrounds the outer edgesof the head and jambs of the fireplace.

C C are respectively the upper and the lower segmental portions of theimproved blower, which when in use to cause draft through the body offuel during the process of combustion are in the position represented inFigs. 1 and 9; but when the coals are thoroughly ignited these portionsare elevated by the operator into the positions they assume, (see Fig.10,) with their inner edges resting upon the cleats a a. (Seen in detailin Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. See Sheets Nos. 2 and 3.) Thesecleats are cast upon the inner surfaces of the jambs D near their upperends on each side of the fireplace of sufficient strength to support theweight of their respective portions 0 0 when resting thereon. and theupper one a is so inclined downward at its inner end 00 as to retain thepieces on their respective cleats, and prevent their sliding downwardaccidentally and covering the fire. Secured to each end of the coverC bythe bolts 7.; are the plates J, (see Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12,) one oneach side, having a lug m on each, which project laterally from theouter surfaces of said plates and engage with the inner surfaces of thecleats a, which prevent the cover from being drawn outward fromitsconnection with the cleat during any movement of. raising and loweringsaid cover, the elongated vertical portion of the cleat a acting as aguide and preventing said cover from being drawn out of place when drawndownward to cover the fire.

A series of ratehct-teeth (Z (see Fig. 1) are arranged one above theother (see Figs. 1 and 9) 011 the outer face of the upper cover 0, oneof which may be caused to engage with the pivoted handle G, that hasplay in the bearings (Z, which are rigid upon the head of the casing Ato assist in maintaining the portions in their elevated position. Thelower-portion 0' remains in connection with the portion 0 until releasedand lowered.

The apparatus is provided with the gratebars H (see Fig. 9) and the sliprocking bar L, which passes through the loop a and its end resting inthe socket (Z.

By means of said bar the grate is oscillated to clear it of ashes andcinders.

Nheu access to the ash-pit is desired to remove the debris therein,thecover N is raised from the lower side, it being provided with hinges s,and one of the teeth 1) is caused to engage with the loop q for thepurpose of retaining said cover in an elevated position.

I claim as my invention 1. The segmental covers 0 C, constructed asherein shown and described, in combination with the jambs D, having thecleats and guides at a formed upon their surfaces, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. The cover C, having the plates J, provided with the lugs m, bolted toits ends or side portions for the purpose of preventing said cover frombeing drawn outward from connection with the cleats a of the jambs Dduring the upward or downward movements of the said cover, substantiallyin the manner herein shown and described.

The combined mechanism for open firegrate or fireplace, consisting ofthe portions 0 0, plate J, bolted to the portion 0, and the jambs D,having the cleats a a cast upon their surfaces and adapted for the rightand left hand sides of the fireplace, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

J OIIN II. McILVAIN'.

.Vitnesses:

THOMAS J'. BEWLEY, F. W. Nnwnonn.

